Malacañang has retained Bacolod City and the province of Negros Occidental under Modified General Community Quarantine in the next 15 days despite of the continuing surge in local cases. The announcement was made last night during the President’s Talk to the Nation.
But in an earlier briefing by the Department of Health in Western Visayas, the health bureau has tagged Bacolod as a high-risk area for COVID-19 with a daily attack rate of over 20% as of June 12.
Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte approved the extension of Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) from June 16 to June 30, 2021 in Negros Oriental, Iloilo City and Iloilo province. But sea travel between Bacolod and Iloilo remains unhampered as of today as no new request from Iloilo City was raised for suspension of trips.
Gov. Eugenio Lacson of Negros Occidental meanwhile issued a new executive order prescribing stringent measures to curb the recent surge of COVID-19 confirmed cases in the province. In his 3-page EO, Lacson orders to continue to regulate the entry of residents from Negros Oriental.
Lacson also ordered the local chief executives, the Philippine National Police and the Army to heightened their patrol operations in the provincial borders, covering the areas of San Carlos, Kabankalan and Hinobaan.
The EO also ordered the closure of beach resorts and waterparks across the province from June 23 to 25, as a precautionary measure as he anticipates large gathering in various waterparks and beaches on June 24 to celebrate San Juan. He also reiterated to limit mass gathering in economic and commercial establishment at 30%.
